Minions (2015) – Review

It’s funny to see how certain characters in entertainment become so popular that they are actually more popular than the main characters themselves. This was the case with the Rabbits in the Rayman games where the funny, but also very stupid bunnies eventually got their own games and TV show. In the Despicable Me movies the minions were responsible for comic relief and those were the moments that were often the most fun. A spinoff with just these funny yellow figures was bound to happen (just like a flood of merchandise from dolls to “fart guns”). However, are these characters entertaining enough to fill an entire movie?

The minions are known as the helpers of the criminal mastermind Gru in the Despicable Me movies, but as this film shows in its opening that wasn’t always the case. The inarticulate creatures existed in prehistoric times and have always been looking for a villain that they can help. In a quick montage we see them help a dinosaur, a pharaoh, Dracula and Napoleon until they have to flee and end up living alone in an icy cave. They are fine with this at first, but quickly grow bored. They decide to carry out an expedition to find a new boss. Bob, Stuart and Kevin are the ones who will go into the world where they discover Scarlet Overkill, who seems to be the right person to become their new master.

 
The strength of the Minions in the previous films was mainly the fact that they were only present in small doses, where the pieces did not have much of a story. If you are planning to watch this expecting a movie that’s constantly funny you’ll be disappointed. By adding a story, giving some Minions names dilutes what made them so much fun. Of course there are plenty of moments to laugh, but there are less than expected. Scarlet Overkill is the character to carry the story, but that character is not as interesting as Gru. Personally, I’d rather see the chattering little yellow figures as part of a next Despicable Me movie than in an (inevitable) second part.